Hello and welcome to Let’s Talk – Tools. This is the fifth in my Let’s Talk Series and I’m concentrating today on the basic must haves in a craft kit.
What springs into your mind when you say tools? And no I’m not talking spanners, screwdrivers and things. Not even the cute Classic Garage Metal Elements in the Spring/Summer Catalogue.
So, I actually googled the definition of tools and found this
” A tool is a piece of equipment that you hold in your hands to use to do a particular piece of work”.
The term tools actually means different things to different people. So, to me as a crafter it means trimmers, scissors, punches, punch boards, bone folders etc.
My 5 must have basic tools are
Paper Trimmer
Over the years I have used various trimmers with varying success. After a lot of trials and errors, my Stampin’ Up! one has become my trimmer of choice. The reasons being
- It’s light weight and has a lock on the guard. The lock keeps the guard closed when I’m storing it and furthermore, stops the thin cutting mat from falling out.
- It has both a cutting and scoring blade and there is no need to remove one when when using the other.
- As a result of having both an extendable arm and a large cutting base, you can cut full 30.5 x 50.5 cm (12″ x 12″) paper.
- There are both metric and imperial measurements on the cutting base.
- Storage compartment underneath for storing your bone folder and additional cutting blades.
- Blades are easy to replace and replacements come in packs of two. No one likes fluffy edges on their paper and how often you have to change blades is very dependent on the types of paper you tend to use. Cutting lots of paper such as glimmer paper will require you to replace blades more frequently.
Paper Snips
These are a must have for any paper crafter. They are great for getting into the small spaces on images when “fussy” cutting, trimming fluffy edges and cutting off excess paper. Admittedly I also use mine for ribbon and when I can’t find my Take Your Pick Tool, the sharp tip is great for getting under those small embellishments such as rhinestones.
Bone Folder
Used for scoring and making crisp folds in paper and cardstock. Furthermore, it can also be used for distressing and curling paper.
Clear Acrylic Blocks
These are a must have for mounting and using your photopolymer, clear mount and click mount stamps. These are another item that I have accumulated many of over the years. Blocks are a very personal thing – some people prefer thin ones and others thicker. Having tried all sorts, my blocks of choice are the Stampin’ Up! ones. The reasons being –
- They have a thicker ergonomic design with a groove around the sides. Because of the groove, gripping each block is much easier.
- There are different sizes available. People think one size fits all when it comes to blocks but when stamping this really is not the case. The block needs be large enough to fit the stamp but not so large that it swamps the stamp. This is because lots of open space around the stamp can lead to ink transfer onto the block and then onto your card stock.
Take Your Pick Tool
This four in one tool is a must have for crafters. It’s designed to make working with small embellishments so much easier. The “putty” end is perfect for picking up sequins and placing them perfectly on your projects. The flat, spatula is designed to easily slip under adhesive backed elements such as rhinestones, pearls and enamel dots. There is also a paper piercing tool AND two sizes of stylus tips
I hope you have found this Let’s Talk – Tools post useful.
The previous topics are (click on each topic to jump to the post) –
Furthermore, there is an accompanying printable sheet for each post. You will find these in the Tutorial Section. See the link in right-hand side bar.
Happy stamping.
Fiona xx
Ways to shop and save in February
2019 Sale-A-Bration – There are lots of ways to earn free things. Join, Shop or Host the choice is yours. See below for all the latest items available for free with a qualifying spend.
Join my Team – Choose your own starter kit. During Sale-A-Bration you get to choose £170 worth of product for £99 (includes P&P) or add the Craft & Carry Tote (worth £47) and pay £125. What’s more, future orders (min of 3 months) will receive a 20% discount. This is a great way to start your own Stampin’ Up! business or simply make your crafting funds go further. If you would like more information please contact me at fiona@oakfieldcrafts.com.
Save 10% on Bundles from the catalogues. There is something for everyone simply because there are an amazing number to choose from.
Sale-A-Bration 2019 Items
Free with a £45 spend
Free with a £90 spend